New Gods of North America

When the dinner ended, Inessa finally declined the "job transfer" proposed by Priest Tyrrell.

Wayne, on the other hand, seemed to have a preliminary understanding of Priest Tyrrell's position—

A Southerner, who seemed closer to Priest Bazini in the local church.

Perhaps these two were on the same path, but Priest Tyrrell was clearly in a higher "position" in terms of status, qualifications, or reputation than Priest Bazini.

However, occasionally, one could still sense that Priest Tyrrell didn't seem to have much initiative or courage; some of his words would change to follow Priest Bazini's intentions.

So, he wanted to poach someone...

And this should have originated from Priest Tyrrell's proposal.

Priest Bazini hadn't paid too much special attention to Inessa before, at most just going along with the flow.

After being rejected, Priest Tyrrell still acted like a very approachable and weak merchant:

"It's okay, Miss Inessa. If you change your mind later, you can always contact me again. I will always welcome you."

Wayne was also praised a couple of times by him, but he didn't offer any benefits or convenience,

Such as being able to ask him for help when something happened.

He could go back to the detective agency on Saturday night.

The current "landlord" is more sensible than the previous one, so there shouldn't be any problems. Even if there are problems, he could just give up the scholarship and ask Professor Maisel to help plead for him.

Professor, the genius girl in my family has lost her mind, ah, no, she's sick.

I'm going back to take care of her; at least that's justifiable, right?

After arriving at the detective agency, Wayne really did glance at Emma.

Seeing the little girl flipping through a dictionary in her room, he helped her understand some concepts that were not easy to grasp just by reading, and then went back to his own room.

He also took some unused sketch paper from the little girl.

He tried to draw the structural diagram of the gun silencer and marked some technical requirements.

Wayne revised it several times, feeling that experienced professionals should be able to understand and make it. Then, he started writing a letter to... to... what was that guy's name?

He was Miss Mary's brother, who was encouraged by his sister to pursue Miss Olivia, but he himself seemed more interested in Miss Russell. His family owned a steel processing plant that could produce seamless steel pipes.

Ah, he remembered, Alex Brook.

"Dear Mr. Alex Brook:

"After visiting the factory you manage, I am filled with confidence in your company's capabilities and professionalism. I would like to customize a small number of special mechanical parts, initially planning for one hundred, with the possibility of more in the future. I hope you can arrange for a sample to be made.

"I am willing to pay a separate fee for the sample production, but I declare that I retain the design drawings and related patents. As for the subsequent unit price of the finished product, we can discuss it in detail after the sample is completed."

After writing a simple letter, Wayne arranged for Doug to take a trip to the Brook family's steel processing plant when he had time.

He emphasized that the drawings could only be shown to the other party or the professionals in the factory to determine if they could be made. If the sample production cost was less than $50, they could make a few to see. If not, they should bring the drawings back.

Regardless of whether these were gun parts, he wanted to see if the other party could make a sample.

The American Federation actually had patent laws from the beginning of its founding. Although there were still many loopholes in practice, and it was troublesome to sue infringers one by one, at least it was valid in law.

However, a patent in a sense also represents "disclosure." Gun accessories are even more difficult to talk about, especially "silencers," which have a very special purpose at first glance. He might be targeted by the military or strange institutions.

So, for the time being, he could only say that they were mechanical parts, and he wouldn't apply for a patent for now. The fewer people who knew, the better.

Doug solemnly put away the drawings and letter and then went to Inessa to get petty cash.

...

The next day was a day off.

Wayne thought about it and still showed his face at the church in Georgeberg. He had to make a show of "caring about the church."

After listening to a sermon and donating a few dollars, he returned to the detective agency to wait for lunch.

As soon as he entered the small courtyard, he saw several carriages and some servants inside.

Miss Olivia was already a regular at the detective agency, and even the servants were a little familiar with the place. He estimated that they even knew where the ingredients and seasonings were kept in the kitchen.

However, she seemed to be coming a little too frequently these days. Wayne guessed that she was about to "awaken" and might be coming to prepare for it.

Simon Sherman was probably here to find Lina again.

Unfortunately, Lina was away on a business trip.

Walking into the reception room in the office area, Wayne realized that he had misunderstood.

Simon Sherman should have received the reminder from the detective agency and taken it seriously. He had brought people to move the obsidian slab over again.

Inessa and David Mills were studying the slab—the latter was said to have come to find Connal to fight another match in the arena.

The two had a similar view on the slab. Putting history aside, they both felt that it was just an "ordinary" slab at the moment.

Wayne also took a few glances and found that it was indeed the case.

The first time he saw this thing, Wayne could feel that it seemed to contain some dying spiritual power.

But now, no matter how he stared at it, the slab seemed dead. There was no more fluctuation like a "heartbeat."

Even the spiritual power seemed to have completely dissipated, turning into a normal object.

Then Inessa called Miss Olivia over from the backyard.

After trying to look at it and touch it, she shook her head.

For safety's sake, Wayne persuaded Simon Sherman to temporarily hand it over to David Mills to have the clergy at the church confirm it again.

However, with the previous appraisal report on the potion, Wayne wasn't sure how reliable the church's appraisal was.

The fact that a small piece of the slab had been secretly removed naturally couldn't be told to Simon Sherman.

So Wayne continued to hide it from him, anyway, he couldn't tell.

After looking at the slab, he left a few people to have lunch.

After Simon Sherman left, those who were going to fight went to fight, and those who were going to study continued to study.

Inessa then took out the bottle that had been filled with potion and wrapped with rune strips from the safe.

This time, she tried to throw the slab fragment, along with the steel wool ball outside, into the crucible and boil it with the potion.

Inessa also planned to change the storage location, and then lock it in the hidden safe under the cellar.

Wayne then realized what was wrong with Miss Olivia:

"Have you been dreaming every night recently that this thing seems to be calling you?"